AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XIX, 4 November 1899, Page 841

AS SEEN THROUGH WOMAN’S EYES.

HOME MADE FURNITURE.

A HALL SEAT AND HOW TO MAKE IT.

seen, it is severely simple, and so easily made that even our dear old friend in journalism, “the veriest tyro” of a amateur carpenter should find no difficulty therein. But, if there be no convenient amateur handy, the odd job carpenter of the neighbourhood will easily understand and fix up the

mon articles of furniture at ridiculously cheap prices is infinite. All the designs published up to date, have proved even more popular than I had hoped, and as the cry is still like Oliver Twist for more, I give this week a design for a seat or settle for a hall or study or dining-room. As will be

Judging’ from the number of appreciatory letters which have come to hand during the last week or so, the number of New Zealand women of limited means, who appreciate designs which enable them to obtain uncom-

carpentry parts, and you yourself can see to the finishing touches, which after all are most important. The material required is not extensive nor expensive. Inch kauri nine inches wide will do admirably, but of course more ornamental woods can be adopted if means permit. Inch stuff will afford ample strength, and about 60ft, 9in. wide, will be needed. Three boards, not less than 7ft. long—to cut

into the six lengths required—will be needed for the ends, and, say six, not less than 9ft. long, for the back and front, and the top and bottom of seat. A few small strips of 2in. wood will presently be required for the “clamps” upon which the top of the seat will rest and the “lining” underneath. Having obtained this material, the first thing to do is to cut it off exactly to the sizes which are here given in this miniature working drawing. The design is so simple that, with these definite measurements, a fullsized drawing is rendered unnecessary. The aim has been, in devising this box settle with back, to relieve the amateur of any dovetail work, glueing, or other complications. Thus the seat rests on the clamps which are shown in Fig. 3. These clamps keep the ends well together. It is suggested that the bottom of the box should be let in a groove made on the inner side of the ends after they are thus clamped and, as shown in Fig. 3, this groove should not come to the end. With a tenon saw and small chisel this groove can be worked without much difficultv.

The cut-through decorations of our settle, though “busy looking,” are not formidable. A centre-bit of the desired size and a key-hole saw will execute the cut-through work in the back to perfection, and a bow-saw will readily cut out the shaping of the front bottom board and the ends. The upholstery is also of the crudes* kind. It consists of some Madras hides, with just an inch or two of stuffing laid beneath—if a little “curled hair” is not obtainable a layer or two of some old blanket, or rug. would give the necessary bulge and softness —fastened on the surface with brass or copper studs. If, prior to these finishing touches, the wood had been stained a dark “leaf green” and wax polished, the effect of the reddish tint of the hides and the copper studs would be seen at its best. Some

fabric, such as tapestry or velvet, could of course, be used, but the hides would be most in keeping with the general sturdiness of the present notion. © ® ®

WHAT TO DRINK WHEN IT IS HOT.

The hot weather may come on us suddenly at any time now, and some hints on drinking in hot weather may be of service to “Graphic" readers.

By “drinking” in hot weather we do not mean the taking of beer, wine, or stronger liquors, for there is nothing to discuss in such a question. There is no one competent to speak on this subject, even though he may indulge moderately himself, who does not admit that the human system is better without alcoholic drinks in hot weather. But “intemperance” does not consist alone in indulgence in intoxicating beverages; many a man has died of “intemperance" in eating and drinking who never allowed so much as a glass of cider to pass his lips. The most dangerous of all drinks in hot weather is ice-cold water: for l>eing without cost and without taste, it is often taken in enormous quantities, whereas if it cost money, seldom more than a single glass would be taken at a time.

Like many other things, ice-water is in itself a blessing, and only as an abused gift becomes a curse. When one is overheated, ice-water talqen sipwise is refreshing and cooling, but when swallowed in great draughts it is a deadly thing. If the temptation to take a “long drink” cannot be resisted, the water must not be cold; even eool springwater is dangerous so indulged in. The proper way is to rinse the mouth and gargle the throat first with eold water, then take a couple of swallows —not gulps—and so on, alternately gargling and drinking. The first time this plan is tried, one will be astonished to find how little cold water is needed to quench thirst and refresh the heated body. One glassful used in this way will do more good than three or four taken like a horse. It must not be understood, however, from anything said above, that the drinking of water in hot weather is injurious. On the contrary, large quantities should be taken, two quarts or more a day, but it should be taken a little at a time, and not too cold. The body is constantly throwing off water in the form of perspiration, and water must be supplied to replace the loss. We have spoken only of water, because this is the basis of all cooling drinks, and because we cannot drink quarts of lemonade or any other sweetened and 'flavoured beverage without causing the stomach to rel>el. but when taken in moderation, sodawater, ginger ale, and the like, are harmless.

LOUNGING COMFORTS

Among the requisites for summer outings are big, fluffy, sensible outdoor pillows and cushions with strong washable covers. These are made for real use, and not for show, and Whether the ’home be surrounded by shady hammock-hung trees and roomy porches, or whether the holiday maker must seek his pleasure in the woods or by the seashore, he is sure to find some place where cushions will make his repose stil more inviting. The first consideration of these lounging comforts is their durability. Daily use soon soils them, and the material must, therefore, be washable. A pretty hammock pillow not only adds additional comfort, but gives a touch of colour that is refreshing. The best materials are Turkey-red of the best quality, and blue and grey linen. An effective hammock pillow had a cover of Turkey red stamped in starfish pattern, and outlined in white working cotton. On the reverse side were the owner’s initials worked in white, and the pillow was piped with white braid. Common grey towelling, with a red stripe on each side, made a cover for a second pillow. At each side of the stripe was worked a row of cat-stitching in red cotton, and on the upper side of the pillow, also in

red. were the words* “Sweet Im- thy dreams.” Another pillow was of buff linen, worked in brown washing silks, and a fourth was of blue linen, outlined with a star and crescent pattern in white cotton. ® ® ®

HARDENING THE CONSTITUTION

Men talk about “hardening the constitution.” and with that view expose themselves to summer’s sun and winter’s wind, to strain and other efforts, and many unnecessary hardships. To the same end ill-informed mothers souse their little infants in cold water day by day. their skin and flesh and bodies steadily growing rougher and thinner, and weaker, until slow fever, or water on the brain, or consumption of the bowels, carries them to the grave; and then they administer to themselves the semicomfort and rather questionable (•onsolation of its being a mysterious dispensation of Providence, when, in fact. Providence had nothing to do with it. Providence works no miracle to counteract our follies. The best way we know of hardening the constitution is to take good care of it. for it is no more improved by harsh treatment than a tine garment or new hat is made better by being banged about.

To remove pimples take regular exercise and the daily sponge bath. Then eait neither rich nor greasy food, and do all that is necessary to make the blood good and pure. It is wise, at the same time, to bathe the face with some harmless healing lotion. Listerine, in three times as much boiled water, is very soothing. After sponging on the face quite often for a few days, apply eau de cologne in which is a pinch of borax. These two washes act together very nicely. Eat plenty of fruit, particularly lemons. oranges. tigs, and grapes.

® ® ® SICK HEADACHF

The periodical recurrence of sick headache with many persons is a grievous affliction. Those who suffer from it should correct every habit and avoid all indiscretions which they know are likely to be followed by an attack. They should also overcome every derangement of the system which exists, if possible, a’nd strengthen every part and function of the same. In fact, they should treat at first, not the head" and its aches, but endeavour to build up the general health. In the attempt to do so they must not indiscriminately dose themselves with drugs, but rather depend upon pure air, exercise, sufficient sleep, good. wholesome food, and other measures of like character. One of the greatest, essentials in treatment will be a careful selection of diet and a rigid restriction to those articles of food which, in their experience, have proved the least burdensome to their digestive organs.

VALUABLE TOILET HjINTS.

However clear a skin may be, if it is not even in texture it cannot be wholly pleasing. We may take a hint towards making it so from •those who rea'r thoroughbreds for the stables. These beauties of the four-footed world have skins as supple. smooth, and shining as satin of price. They gain such by constant friction and nerve stimulus. The brush does the work needed by a

hairy eoat, but the finish is given with flannels and the palm of the hand.

A bath towel plied with vigour night and morning on the body is the best complexion brush. The silk face cloth has a. peculiar effect. Used dry. with little friction, it seems to carry with it every particle of dust, oiliness, and east-off matter from the skin, leaving the bloom of marble fresh from the finishing tool. A halfminute’s rub everv hour renews the freshness, like that left by skilful powdering. And what woman does not thrill at the charming triumph of being accused of powdering, when a rub of her cheek on a black sleeve proves the utter groundlessness of tin l charge?

The scented silk cloth in the pocket, instead of the powder-puff, keeps

the complexion in repair, rubs out the wrinkles, trains the eye-brows Hat, ami seems to reduce the pile of down on the cheeks. Diet has everything to do with retaining the effect, for water and silken friction may refine the skin for a time, but the permanent cure must be internal.

(X>NDITU>N OF CHILD’S TONGUE

One of the points to be considered very carefully, both in health and disease, is the condition of the child’s tongue. In spite of the fact that a baby may acquire the habit of putting out its tongue unnecessarily when the mother would have it look its best, it is wise to teach it, at as early a period as possible, how to put the tongue out, and to open its mouth so as to expose the whole truth. Children are mimics, and the mother who has taken singing lessons and learned to curve the tongue down, thus exposing the throat to its fullest extent, would do well to make a game with her children, encouraging them to such imitation. If she will open her mouth and make the sound a-a-h—, letting the tongue form a curve in the lower part of the mouth, her baby will copy, it, and the chances for required applications to the throat, in case of diphtheria and other maladies, will be greater. Apropos of this, another nursery game, which is valuable in its farreaching possibilities, is the putting on to the child of a rubber bib and teaching it< to gargle. Have some sugar and water, and let the little one, in its imitative performances, even spill a great deal and swallow some. If the result is accomplished and the child learns to gargle, there will be gained a better opportunity for curative measures in case of simple or malignant throat maladies.

HOUSEWIVES’ HELPS.

To test the freshness of an egg. drop it in cold water. If it is fresh it will sink, if stale it will float. Never trim a lamp wick with scissors. It is almost impossible to cut it clean and straight. Just rub the burned part off with an old cloth. To make a carjvet look bright that has lost its colour, sponge it off well with strong soap suds in which a little turpentine has been poured. When a nutmeg is old it has no oil. If you are in doubt about its being good, pierce the nutmeg with a needle. If good, oil will immediately spread round the puncture. If you use a wooden pail about your household and it begins to shrink and leak, fill it with water and then stand, it in a tub filled with water. This will swell the wood so it will leak no more. © © ® PREVENTING PRICKLY HEAT.

The mother whose children suffer in hot weather from prickly heat will lie glad to know that if she will put baking soda into the water in which her children are bathed she may do much toward preventing the arrival of the irritating malady. She should not wait until the rash appears before she adopts this simple means to stop its progress, but may all through the summer have soda added to the little ones’ bath water. In one family where this precaution was taken none of the children was troubled with prickly heat during the entire season, although every preceding year the small boys and girls had been liberally peppered w9th the) distressing eruption. ® ® ® A NEW OCCUPATION FOR WOMEN.

The man’s wife was in the country, and she had written to him ask ng him to uuy her some stockings, telling him the size, style, ami price to pay. The man reached the shop where his wife had told him this certain kind of stocking was to be found. His natural courtesy obliged to him to hold one of the doors open for several minutes while a crowd of women passed in and out, taking the act of courtesy as a matter of fact. Fnally he became provoked and tired and abruptly gave up his place as door-keeper. He got to the stocking counter at last and sank upon a vacant stool. No one appeared to notice him and no one came to wait upon him. He did not seem to mind much at first, and just sat there looking around, and, to his way of thinking, getting braver and bolder every moment. Women caine and women went; they told what they wanted, made their selection or merely

looked over the stock and went away, and still he sat there and no one came near him. By this time he had quite regained his presence of mind, and, getting tired of sitting there unnoticed, got up suflicient courage to ask the door walker to get some one to wait upon him. A voice saying, “What is it you wish, sir?” caused him to look up quickly, ami there stood a young and pretty girl, smilingly awaiting his reply. He mustered up courage enough to say: — “Ladies’ stockings.” “What colour and what size, please?” Then he began to fumble in his pockets for the letter telling the size, colour and style, but that letter was nowhere to be found. He grew hot and then cold, his face got red, he knocked his umbrella down and it fell with a crash. As he stooped to pick it up he dropped his hat, and, finally, was so mixed up and confused and by this time so irritated at the pretty, smiling girl, who was so cool, calm and collected, that he blurted out:— “Oh, show me your very latest styles in No. 10.” She laid out a selection for him to choose from which almost blinded him. They were striped and dotted and open worked, and of every imaginable and unimaginable fancy under the sun. He made his selection at last, purchasing four pairs of brilliantly coloured hose at about three times the price his wife had told him, and left the shop hugging his precious bundle, feeling himself a hero in the strife. He stopped at the post office and sent his bundle away, and then, with the conscientious dignity of a man who has done his duty, no matter how disagreeable it was, he went home. In a day or two he received a letter from his wife, and a few hours afterward the stockings by post. His wife said:—

“You know that I wear size SJ. Those stockings are in the most horrible taste. I am sending them back to you. I know there was a pretty girl behind the counter, and she was guying you by palming off all the old stock she had. Get those stockings exchanged at once and send them to me.”

In despair he went to see his chum and persuaded the chum’s wife to make the exchange for him. Now he goes around and declares that any woman who will purchase the things wanted by men’s wives while they are out of town could make a fortune.

AS IN A LOOKING GLASS.

Do not believe every thing you see in the looking- glass. The reflection in the mirror does not portray one’s likeness with absolute accuracy. The hair is wrong in tone, the eyes are not correct in colour, and complexions are hopelessly libelled by this specious household deceiver. It is certain that if the looking glass told the truth the sales of various complexion washes would greatly decrease, for any fair skin looks grey and pallid in a glass, and as a result many women ruin their splendid complexions by trying to improve them because they look unsatisfactory in the mirror. You may be certain that however plain your face seems, it is not so plain as it appears in the tell-tale mirror. Secondly, you cannot assume your natural expression while peering in a looking glass. The eye must be in a certain position before you can see at all. and the eye, so far as expression is concerned, governs the face. The consequence is that you can see only one of your expressions in the glass, and that one of tentative examination.

® ® ® AMIABILITY RECIPES.

Don’t find fault. Don’t believe all the evil you hear. Don’t be rude to your inferiors. Don’t repeat gossip. Don't underrate anything because you don’t possess it. DoiFt do about untidily dressed on the plea that anything does for home wear. Ihm’t contradict people, even if you are sure you are right. o © ® A HINT ABOUT CANDLES.

There are many sojourners in country cottages at the present time who are compelled to do without the convenience of gas, and to use candles in their bedrooms. As everyone knows, the gutterings and drippings, of a candle are trying to the temper, and

there is the ruin that is often inflicted upon oarpets and garments. An authority declares that the dripping tendency may be greatly lessened if the candles are, during the daylight hours, kept in the ice-box. They will burn twice as long, and drip one quarter ns much if they are kept on ice until such time as they are needed for immediate use. ® ® ®

BOOTS AND SHOES.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

So-called cheap boots and shoes are not, as a rule, worth the buying. They are generally badly-cut and badly-made, and are dear at any price. Never buy new boots in the morning. After the night’s rest, the feet are smaller than later in the day, and shoe® that would be comfortable then may be decidedly tight when your feet have widened through standing on them.

Ready-made shoes fit some feet, but if they do not fit yours don’t be persuaded to buy them. Corns, bunions, and tender feet are the results of uncomfortable boots and shoes. A wellfitting boot, too, makes the foot look smaller, just as a well-fitting glove apparently decreases the size of the hand. Now that satisfactory boot-trees can be bought for as little as 1/8 a pair, everyone ought to afford them. Their

coet is well repaid by the improved appearance of the boots and shoes that are always placed on them immediately after wearing. Wrinkles are smoothed out, the proper shape kept, and the cleaning process is much easier.

If possible, buy boots and shoes three months before you want to wear them. To make the soles more durable, pour some castor-oil into a plate, stand the soles in this, and leave for three days. The oil must not be deep enough to touch the leather. Then wipe the soles with a cloth, rub a little of the oil well into the leather, and put the boots away till you need them, airing and cleaning them occasionally. Whilst boots are fairly new, orangejuice is an excellent polish. Rub it on, let dry in, and rub with a soft duster till a brilliant polish is obtained. Soles and heels must be blacked as usual.

When glace kid begins to get shabby skimmilk and good black ink, mixetl in equal proportions, is a good reviver. Apply it with a sponge, let nearly dry, and polish with a soft shining-brush.

Patent leather should be cleaned with milk or a little sweet-oil well rubbed in. Never wipe this leather with a cloth dipped in water. Water makes the leather look dull. Clean soles and heels with blacking.

Stains on brown shoes can be removed by rubbing the spots with methylated spirit. Polish afterwards with the following cream: One ounce of muriatic acid, half an ounce of alum, half an ounce of spirits of lavender, half an ounce of gum-arabic, and a pint of some skim milk, or more if it is too thick.

Tf your boots get very wet, fill them with dry bran, which has been slightly heated in the oven; lace or button them up, and hang in a warm, airy place to dry, but not near a fire. The bran absorbs the moisture, and leaves the leather soft and pliable. When dry rub a little castor-oil well in, leave till next day, and clean as usual. The same bran can be used many times.

® ® ® FAMILY NAMES.

Just now there seems to be a fashionable craze to give the same Christian name to all the sons in a family, not as an only name, but always as the first, and then to add a second name that the child shall be called by, as to have one name answer for half-a-dozen sons would be a little awkward, to say the least. This, of course, ensures the family name being carried on, even if death should be busy with the children. The Queen, of course, has always given the names of Albert and Victoria to all connected with her, and the Dukes of Beaufort follow this rule very rigidly.

UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS.

How fashions change!Not long ago it was considered vulgar to have anything but a plain handle to your parasol. umbrella, or en-tout-cas. To be sure, it might' be of gold or silver, or some expensive wood; but simplicity was the correct thing. At the present moment, the more weird and uncannylooking a beast we can mount on our handles the better—uncouth creatures that grin and smirk at you, and when possible are made of diamonds. Flowers are also the fashion, and poppies, roses, and carnations disport themselves gaily on all hands, and really are charmingly pretty.

® ® ® WHITE OSTRICH PLUMES. IX) OLEAN THEM, FOLLOW THIS RULE. White ostrich plumes are very smart this summer. Hut they soil, alas! how rapidly. To clean them, dissolve four ounces of pure white soap cut into portions in four pints of hot water, placed in a large basin. Beat up the water with the hands or a small whisk until a lather is Obtained, and into this dip the feathers. Wash one at a time and Tub it gently up and down with the hand under water; then dip it instantly in clean, very hot water, and get someone to shake the feather in the sun while the others are washed in a. similar manner. When washed and dry, procure a blunt knife, or a smooth strip of whalebone, and curl the feathers by taking just a few strands of feather at a time, and, beginning near the stem; enrl them upon the knife between the fingers. You must not endeavour to accomplish a crisp twizzling curl, for such

are very much out of vogue. The fronds or strands are made to curve wider, gracefully and evenly, but not with a light curl at all.

© ® ® MOTH-MONTHS.

HINTS TO KEEP YOUR GARMENTS.

Now is the opportunity of the clothes moth, that most destructive of household pests. The warm damp evenings of the early summer, when furs and woollens, though little used, are still kept out in case of possible need, are those in which it finds its greatest opportunities and works its most appalling mischief—mischief often not discovered until months later, when the cherished garment is found to be a total wreck. Extreme rare should be taken to prevent the moth from laying her eggs in your furs. Only beating them and your heavy clothes will keep the pests away. Therefore, when you give your furs a cursory examination and lay them away until autumn, alas and a-lack-a-day! when the autumn comes the fur flies, and Ichabod is written allmve your beautiful wrap. So if you wish to escape such catastrophe be careful. Pounds of tar and camphor will not preserve your garments if the moth eggs have already been deposited when they are laid away. Practical experience proves that while the moth objects to strong odours of any kind, the worm which does the mischief has apparently no olfactory organs and will do its deadly work in the midst of tar and camphor galore. Expose all winter garments to a hot sun and beat them and shake them with energy. Tf there are no moths in the garments when laid away, and von wrap them, securely in newspapers (moths, like other evil-doers, object, to printer’s ink), von may feel reasonably secure that thrv are safe. The thing is to make certain that no moths are in them and that none can get at them.